Accept a request to not pray for someone?

Lilly Owl · May 2, 2013

Well Lee, another way to look at it is to recall John 6:65. Jesus said, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

So your prayers on behalf of this person, your attempt to save them being revoked by them, leave it in God's hands. Perhaps this person already knows that they're not meant to be saved, they've not been granted salvation, and that's why they resent your prayers on their behalf for that.

Edit to add this) I found this article that may help you.
True Christians Don’t Proselytize

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Steve

Lee M · May 2, 2013

Lilly Owl,

Thanks for being so thoughtful and for responding

Sketcher · May 2, 2013

Lee M said:
It doesn't really matter what I think your prayers cause... it's the fact that you are trying to go against my will in my very own life and for some reason you feel entitled to do this, somehow what you want for me is more important that what I want for me and you are actively trying to do it and you feel like you have such a right... what that implies about how you feel about me is enough.
I'm just trying to explain the sentiment to you.

Does that make anymore sense?

I think you're assuming a lot of what my prayers are like to come to this conclusion. Please understand: When I pray to God, I pray with the understanding that he vets every request that comes to him according to his perfect wisdom and goodness. Therefore, I leave most of the details to him when praying for someone else. The more I leave out, the less likely it is that what I am praying for is against your will. If I do wind up praying for something against your will, God won't do it unless he agrees with it according to his perfect wisdom and goodness - which means he will either say "no" to it, or if he says "yes" to it, it truly is for your good. Prayer does not indicate that the one praying for you thinks he knows better than you. Prayer only indicates that the one praying for you is doing what he can to invoke the One who does.

Lee M · May 2, 2013

Sketcher said:
I think you're assuming a lot of what my prayers are like to come to this conclusion. Please understand: When I pray to God, I pray with the understanding that he vets every request that comes to him according to his perfect wisdom and goodness. Therefore, I leave most of the details to him when praying for someone else. The more I leave out, the less likely it is that what I am praying for is against your will. If I do wind up praying for something against your will, God won't do it unless he agrees with it according to his perfect wisdom and goodness - which means he will either say "no" to it, or if he says "yes" to it, it truly is for your good. Prayer does not indicate that the one praying for you thinks he knows better than you. Prayer only indicates that the one praying for you is doing what he can to invoke the One who does.

I understand and I appreciate you taking the time to say all this. I won't push this anymore unless you have something to ask me. You responded considerately and told me what you thought and that's what I wanted, so all I have is thanks.

Thanks for responding.

Sketcher · May 2, 2013

You are welcome.

Casual Observer · May 3, 2013

Lee M said:
If you friend or someone you knew was lost and you began to pray for them to be saved and they told you that they do not want you to pray for them, how would that make you feel? If they even became upset and tried to demand that you stop, how would that make you feel?

Would you accept the request and not pray?

If the answer is yes, then why?

If the answer is no, then why not and why do you feel entitled to influence their life against their will through the method of prayer?

Countless lives have been changed for the better by doing exactly what you are attempting to condemn. (But it doesn't work by "influencing their life against their will." Its a bit more complicated than that)

Lee M · May 3, 2013

Do you always use words like countless with such ease? Do you really know how many sinners have been saved or changed against their will? Do you really understand what I've tried to describe? A person who knows exactly what you think and mean and what you're talking about, rejects it and doesn't want you in their life anymore.

Casual Observer · May 3, 2013

Well your last phrase, "doesn't want you in their life anymore," is not necessarily part of the other conditions. What you are referring to often happens among married couples. Staying married is kind of the opposite of saying you don't want them in your life anymore.

Lee M · May 3, 2013

You lost me man

That being said I think you responded to the thread out of impulse.

You didn't really answer any of my questions, just sort of objected. Calm down bro.

cerette · May 3, 2013

I am a bit curious to know why you wouldn't want to be saved?

Lee M · May 3, 2013

I have a hard time telling what I think about Christianity without offending Christians no matter how sincere and real I try to be. To many people on this site already think I'm here to bash and cause doubt, and I'm not, it's just that my view of Christianity is unusually negative, I'm not trying offend it's just how I feel.

So now I just ask my questions leave it at that.

Sorry I don't want to share my view on it.

motherprayer · May 3, 2013

Lee M said:
If you friend or someone you knew was lost and you began to pray for them to be saved and they told you that they do not want you to pray for them, how would that make you feel? If they even became upset and tried to demand that you stop, how would that make you feel?

Would you accept the request and not pray?

If the answer is yes, then why?

If the answer is no, then why not and why do you feel entitled to influence their life against their will through the method of prayer?

Can I ask a question, in all seriousness?

If you don't believe in the power of prayer, why does it matter to you if someone prays?

Lee M · May 3, 2013

motherprayer said:
Can I ask a question, in all seriousness?

If you don't believe in the power of prayer, why does it matter to you if someone prays?

I made this post to see if people would honor or disregard the request to stop prayer, and why or why not. In the case of why not I was wondering why they felt justified to deny that persons will.

That being said, I do believe in the power of prayer, I just don't know what it is.

motherprayer · May 3, 2013

Lee M said:
I made this post to see if people would honor or disregard the request to stop prayer, and why or why not. In the case of why not I was wondering why felt justified to deny that persons will.

That being said, I do believe in the power of prayer, I just don't know what it is.

Okay, I was just wondering.

What if I were praying that God keep you, and encourage your heart?

For some reason - being completely honest - I don't feel like I should pray for your salvation. Just a "thing" but I go with it.

Is that okay?

Casual Observer · May 3, 2013

Lee M said:
I have a hard time telling what I think about Christianity without offending Christians no matter how sincere and real I try to be. To many people on this site already think I'm here to bash and cause doubt, and I'm not, it's just that my view of Christianity is unusually negative

This is a refreshingly honest statement! I also think it's healthy that you can recognize your view as being unusually negative in this regard. In fact, a lot of Christians sitting in the pew have that as well, they're just not honest with themselves about it.

Rather than the sordid details of specifically what negative things you hold about it, I'd be curious to know why you hold those ideas and more importantly, how you came upon them. I bet there's something revealing in all that, but I respect your right not to dish.

It's also refreshingly honest to see someone realize that prayer has some power, and also that they don't really know what it is or how it works. I really don't think it can operate against a person's will, and that seems to be your main concern in this thread? The whole concept of over ruling another person's will enters into the black arts.

Lee M · May 4, 2013

Lee M · May 4, 2013

motherprayer said:
Okay, I was just wondering.

What if I were praying that God keep you, and encourage your heart?

For some reason - being completely honest - I don't feel like I should pray for your salvation. Just a "thing" but I go with it.

Is that okay?

I appreciate the kind gesture but the issue is if a person doesn't want any part of Christianity and your prayers have the intent of helping them be a Christian, then whether your prayers have power or not that can be offensive, because the point is you are trying to make something happen that you know that person doesn't want and they know you're trying to make it happen.

motherprayer · May 4, 2013

Lee M said:
I appreciate the kind gesture but the issue is if a person doesn't want any part of Christianity and your prayers have the intent of helping them be a Christian, then whether your prayers have power or not that can be offensive, because the point is you are trying to make something happen that you know that person doesn't want and they know you're trying to make it happen.

I can agree with this. My prayers don't have the intent on helping you become a Christian though. They are more along the lines of helping you find peace. Does that make sense?

Whether you come back or not is not my battle to fight. But my prayer is that you come to peace with your anger about Christianity. Anger is toxic, Christian or no, know what I mean?

Lee M · May 4, 2013

motherprayer said:
I can agree with this. My prayers don't have the intent on helping you become a Christian though. They are more along the lines of helping you find peace. Does that make sense?

Whether you come back or not is not my battle to fight. But my prayer is that you come to peace with your anger about Christianity. Anger is toxic, Christian or no, know what I mean?

I understand

motherprayer · May 4, 2013

Lee M said:
I understand

Aw cool

Accept a request to not pray for someone?

Since when is God's adversary a curse word here?

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